Regeneration, or the new birth, is the act of the Holy Spirit in taking up His abode within the heart of those who, until that point, have been dead in trespasses and sins. Notice that Christ did not tell Nicodemus, "Ye must get born again," but rather, "Ye must be born again." In other words, this is not something a person just decides they are going to have happen to them, but it is a work that God performs in the life of each one of His chosen people sometime between conception and death. It always occurs at God's appointed time, not when the individual decides it is going to happen. This is precisely why Christ spoke of it as a birth. 

    No one ever has anything to do with their natural birth, and neither do they have anything to do with their spiritual birth. Most people think they do, but they are mistaken. They misinterpret their experience. 

    It is popularly believed and taught that unregenerate persons can get themselves born again by simply reciting a prayer that basically says they realize they are a sinner in need of salvation and that they accept Christ as their personal Saviour. But the truth is that when people begin to feel themselves to be sinners and to desire salvation they are already born of the Spirit. In other words, they feel their sinfulness because of the new birth, not in order to bring it about. Those who are "dead in sins" do not have such feelings; they do not possess faith, they do not love Christ, and they have no interest in spiritual things. 

    Conviction for sin is an evidence of the new birth, not what produces it. Faith in Christ is an evidence of divine life, not what procures that life. Love for God is a product of His love for us, not the other way around. No one loves God except those to whom He has revealed Himself. There is no fear of God before the eyes of the others (See Psa. 36:1 & Rom. 3:18). Consequently the new birth is "of God" (John 1:13). "Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." "You hath he (God) quickened (given life), who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1,4,5). It can be no other way.